On Campus

GAUVIN MAKING HER PRESENCE FELT
Samantha Gauvin is finally getting her chance and she’s making the most of it.
Gauvin, from Coventry (The Prout School), has been a role player for the Ursiline softball team the past three seasons but this year, she’s become a starter for the Arrows, from Pepper Pike, OH. She’s starting at catcher and is hitting .222 (6-for-27) with a double, three RBI and five runs scored. Behind the plate, she’s made just two errors on 57 chances (.965).
“Samantha has put in her time and worked her way into the starting lineup this year,” coach Susan Woodford said. “She excelled as a backup catcher the previous two years but this year she has done a great job working with our younger pitchers and giving them the insight and knowledge they need to pitch at the college level.”
Last season, Gauvin earned the Coaches Award for the way she handled the backup role.
“The big difference in Sam earning a starting position has been her hitting,” Woodford said. “She’s making contact which is moving our runners even when she does make an out. We need her bat in the lineup.”
The coach calls Gauvin a role model to the young athletes on the team.
“She paid her dues and now is seeing the fruit of her labors,” Woodworth said.
The Arrows are 6-8 on the season.

STRALKA, HENRY LEAD THE WAY
Freshmen Lucas Stralka and Scott Henry are the leading scorers on the 3-6 Anna Maria men’s lacrosse team.
Stralka, from East Greenwich (East Greenwich High), has a team-high 15 goals, eight assists and a team-high 23 points. He had three goals in the team’s last three games, including an 11-10 triumph over Emmanuel last Saturday.
“Lucas is a very talented lacrosse player,” coach Mark Lange said. “His field vision and quick hands make him an essential piece of our team. He’s been both a scorer and distributor plus he’s a very hard worker and is great at doing the little things well. It is unique to find a freshman that is as talented as Lucas, but willing to work as hard as he does.”
Henry, from Coventry (Bishop Hendricken), has 10 goals and eight assists to go along with 13 ground balls.
“Scott is a very talented player with his stick and his work ethic and athleticism are second to none,” Lange said. “He started out playing midfield but we’ve moved him to attack.”
The coach is expecting a lot from the duo the rest of the season.
“Lucas is our quarterback and as he continues to get more used to the college defenders and rules, we expect him to become more and more involved as one of our focal points on offense,” Lange said. “As for Scott, we certainly expect him to score points, but more importantly, we are looking for him to be a leader which is a tall order for a freshman but it’s a task we think he is ready for.”

HONORS FOR SPINAZZOLA
Southern California sophomore Luca Spinazzola of Narragansett (Narragansett High) picked up a pair of All-America honors to help the Trojans finish fourth in last weekend’s NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.
Spinazzola swam the leadoff legs on both the 400 medley and 200 medley relay teams, the 400 finishing fourth in 3:04.98 and the 200 finishing fifth in 1:24.54.
Individually, Spinazzola finished 17th in the 100 backstroke (46.59) and 33rd in the 200 backstroke (1:44.02). It was his first NCAA experience.

JUMBO YEAR FOR IZZO
Junior outfielder Nate Izzo of Saunderstown (North Kingstown High) is hitting .314 for the Tufts baseball team, the Jumbos currently 8-7 overall and 1-2 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has 16 hits in 51 at-bats with a double, triple, six RBI and eight runs scored. He’s handled 28 chances in the outfield without making an error.
“Nate has hit all over our lineup and has done a great job of driving in key runs,” coach John Casey said. “He is very versatile both offensively and defensively and has matured into a leader for us this season.”

PALERMO’S A STARTER
Freshman Gianna Palermo of Hope (Coventry High) is starting at third base for the Gordon softball team. She’s hitting .233 (7-for-30) with two doubles, three runs scored and three RBI. She missed the first two games with an injury.
“Having Gianna back in the lineup has helped our team tremendously and our games were much better once she was back in the lineup,” coach Joy Huseland said. “She’s been a very consistent player this season.”
The Fighting Scots are 4-10 overall and 2-4 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

HOOPER’S IN GOAL
John Hooper III is starting in goal for the Husson men’s lacrosse team. In seven games, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior from Wakefield (The Prout School), has given up 60 goals and has 69 saves. He had a season-high 14 saves in an 11-10 loss to Curry last Saturday.
“John is one of the most focused student-athletes I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” coach Sean Murphy said. “He is level-headed and consistent with his play, regardless of what’s going on around him. He has also demonstrated consistently that he can respond well to high pressure situations. He is an exemplary leader and role model for our younger players.”

MESSNER HELPS HAWKS
Junior Andrew Messner of Wakefield (La Salle Academy) is off to a good start with the St. Anselm men’s lacrosse team, the Hawks 2-4 in the young season.
Messner has eight goals and four assists for 12 points. He also has eight ground balls and a caused turnover and had two goals and an assist in a recent 8-7 victory over Assumption and had two goals in a 14-5 loss last weekend to nationally-ranked Le Moyne.
“Andrew has had a productive first few games and is emerging as a vocal leader of our offense,” coach Steve Gaudreau said. “He’s moved from attack to midfield this year, putting him back into his more natural position.”